OF ALL the ways to lose a game, this was the one nobody would have predicted as Neil Colletts almost unbelievable error handed Nantwich Town their place in the first round of the FA Cup.
The goalkeeper has so often been the Nuneaton Town hero the season but on Saturday he was undoubtedly the villain as he let Matt Lowe’s tame second half cross slip through his fingertips for the only goal of an ultra tight tie.
Nantwich finished the game with 10 men after skipper Chris Flynn was harshly sent off on 78 minutes, but the numerical advantage effectively lasted only five minutes as Kevin Thornton pulled a hamstring just after Boro made their final change, rubbing salt into the wounds of a disappointing day.
A rainbow greeted the final whistle at the Weaver Stadium as the Dabbers, who ply their trade a league below Boro, claimed what they hope will lead to a pot of gold.
For Collett there were only tears as he was led off the pitch with words of consolation from team-mates, his manager and opponents none of which can numb the misery of Nantwich’s progression, the first time they have reached the first round in 88 attempts since 1888.
In truth his team-mates did him no favours as they never looked like digging him out the hole he has so often got them out of this season.
One goal always looked like settling it and Boro needed to get it first. Even when they fell behind they never forced Collett’s opposite number Jonny Brain into a proper save despite creating plenty of good openings, especially in the first half.
They must find some kind of consistency of performance soon before this season becomes one of what if.
With the dreams of a significant cup run over they must soon go on an unbeaten run in the league, something that looks unlikely until they learn to get goals against so called lesser teams.
Boro named the same side that started the 2- 1 win against Droylsden a week ago. With seven substitutes allowed goalkeeper Danny Alcock was on the bench along with youth team striker Connor Baker.
Left-back Aaron James was not in the squad having joined Rugby Town on loan.
The Dabbers team had players with Football League experience in the likes of Shrewsbury Town right-back Darren Moss and ex-Stockport County midfielder Fraser McLachlan.
Manager Jimmy Quinn named himself on the bench at the age of 51.
There were no goals in the first half but Boro will not have wanted the break to come as they pressed strongly in the last few minutes of the period.
The hosts forged the first opening as striker Michael Lennon got free on the edge of the box, but Gaz Dean flew in with a great tackle just as he was about to shoot.
Soon after Danny Mitchley and Ben Pugh flashed dangerous balls across the box but no one was there to finish.
On 14 minutes Mitchley was there again to whip a great ball through the six yard box but this time Pugh was caught on his heels and he missed out.
Nantwich had more than held their own without creating many chances. Giant defender Mat Bailey drew a great save out of Collett on the half hour but he was offside.
They had their best chance of the half in the 40th minute when Ben Mills squared to Sean Cooke on the edge of the box but he dragged his shot wide when well placed.
From there Nuneaton took a grip on the half and created three good chances as first Mitchley headed a Graham Ward cross over from six yards when he should have scored.
Mitchley then saw a shot from all of 30 yards deflected just over before Dean got a crisp left footed shot in from a Kevin Thornton corner which hit Aleksanders Solovjovs on the head, almost certainly saving a goal.
From the resultant corner Dean saw a header deflected wide from three yards but there was no breakthrough before the break.
The second half followed largely the same pattern as the first with the first goal looking crucial.
Boro could have taken the lead 30 seconds after the break when Danny Glover robbed Bailey down the left, cut inside and spurned the chance to pass before seeing his shot deflected over.
Mark Noon then fired just over on 57 minutes but neither side looked like breaking the deadlock.
That was until the 68th minute when the almost unthinkable happened. Lowe floated a cross over from the right which looked like being the most routine of catches for Collett.
However, it went through his hands and dribbled in. He immediately slumped to the ground as it dawned on him his impeccable run of form had crashed to an end in such horrible style.
Team-mates, most notably Ward, urged him to raise himself and to his credit the 22-yearold recovered his game well thereafter.
Boro were given a possible route back in when the Dabbers were reduced to 10 men on 78 minutes.
Flynn crashed into Glover but it did not look like his studs were up, rather he tackled with his wrong leg.
A yellow would have been fair from a distance but the overly fussy referee was right on top of the incident and he was swift to produce a red.
Boro boss Kevin Wilkin soon made changes, sending on James Armson and Eddie Nisevic to hug the lines and stretch the game.
However, it was effectively 10 against 10straight after the substitutions when Thornton pulled a hamstring, leaving him a virtual passenger with all three changes made.
Armson did hit the outside of the post with a stooping header straight after coming on but the keeper seemed to have it covered.
It took until the 84th minute for Nantwich to have a legitimate shot on target and they almost added a second a minute later when Niall Maguire hit the post from 12 yards with an effort that would have killed the game off.
